minnetonka cave

We had a great time checking out the Minnetonka Cave in late May of 2014 after stopping in Garden City for some Rasberry Shakes. This stop was perfect for getting out of the car and stretching our legs. Most people should be able to explore the cave with caution. The tour guides seemed very welcoming and were locals and students at the local high school. The sights inside the cave were well worth the $8 and ~1.5 hours of time!

To my surprise most of the attraction in northern Utah/Idaho is closed after the labor day weekend. we spent some time on Sept 8 on the way to Yellowstone National Park, we would like to see the cave,. It was beautiful, sunny day. we need to park the car about mile before the cave which was closed, but the hike was so good.

A rainy cool day at the lake was spared by a wonderful adventure to Minnetonka Cave. We arrived just as a tour was about to begin and it was very fun. The trek into the cave was rather strenuous with 444 steps to navigate- EACH WAY, but well worth the effort. The guide was informative, the cave itself magnificent, and the drive to it was lovely. We appreciated the sign at the beginning of the 10 mile windy road advising us that jackets were recommended and no credit cards accepted. A word of caution however, that this is not an adventure to be taken lightly. The path is at times very slippery, it is cold and wet, and at one point, 71 steps in a row to navigate. This is not the adventure to take small children, folks with breathing difficulties at 7,000 ft elevation, or mobility issues. The tour lasted a bit over an hour and highly recommend to anyone physically up to the task!

What a beautiful cave! It rained during our recent visit so we decided to give this a try and I am glad we did. Tours are guided with limited space available, so plan accordingly. We had to wait about an hour. The cave has several spacious rooms and is well decorated with beautiful formation. With over 400 steps going in (and then again on the way out), it was good exercise, but our 4-year-old handled it without complaint. Also be sure to dress warm. The cave is a constant 40°F - probably don't want to come direct from the lake in a wet bathing suit.

We went ona Saturday and being unwilling to wait 2.5 hours we had to settle for a scenic drive with no cave. The parking was insane up there.

This was an attraction that was worth the drive. We appreciated the beautiful views on the way up and loved the great views inside. What a treat! Our guide was a little quiet but if you stayed close by you could hear her. We enjoyed the tour and leaned new facts about caves.TIP: Accept the extra jackets they offer before starting into the caves. We are wimpy Californians and my kids were cold despite being dressed in jeans, shoes and jackets. It stays at about 40 degrees inside.

Tried to go on a Thursday morning in early August. We arrived at 11:00 a.m. and as we walked up to the booth, they changed the sign to now selling tickets for the 12:30 tour. Supposed to be tours every 1/2 hour with a maximum of 30 people. There were less than 20 people milling around the tables near the booth so we weren't quite sure where the 60 people were for the supposedly sold out tours. We had five kids ages 3-9 and just couldn't wait around for 1 1/2 hours, especially since there was nothing to do. I've been to other caves that had a visitor center and information to view while waiting or at least a ranger to talk to. This place had a few tables and the booth where a few teenagers were selling tickets. Not a ranger in sight and nothing to do while waiting. Got the feeling the teenagers were running the place. We may try again on a return visit to Bear Lake. The drive up the canyon was very pretty and it was only about a half hour from Garden City.

We visited this limestone cave as an afternoon excursion from Bear Lake. The tour interpretation focuses primarily on the geology of the cave and the surrounding area. Ask questions of your guide. Otherwise, the guides rely on a script-like presentation that points out features that look like the Seven Dwarfs or Kermit the Frog. Wear athletic or hiking shoes with good tread, and bring a light jacket. The stairs and paths inside the cave may be wet, and the cave is a constant 40 degrees F. Also, be aware that you may be denied access to the cave if you have recently been in another cave. The Forest Service is attempting to keep White Nose Syndrome, a disease affecting bats, out of Minnetonka Cave, and sees this prohibition as a reasonable precaution.

I went here with family - ages <1 year to 72. The 444 steps in one direction isn't a lie. They stop at regular intervals so you can rest and they have lots of corney one-liners. The kids loved it, including one nephew who found the light switch. I have been in several caves and this was nice. There weren't too many "head bangers" for me, who is 6'3". It was a nice, cool trip.

This is a really fun cave to visit. We were there a day before july 4. Our tour started at 3:30pm and had only 6 guests, but apprently they had way more guests with the tours before and after ours. The inside of the cave was really interesting, a lot of fun informations. Make sure you bring a jacket. You might not need it on your way out tough since you will be huffing and puffing climbing those 404 steps but you will certainly need it on your in. It was a really enjoyable outing. I will recommend it.

This off the beaten track is in the range to the west of Bear Lake, St. Charles Idaho. 10 miles off of US-89, it is in a US National Forest, and the rather rustic operation is run by private concessionaires. Nonetheless, it provides an accessible, friendly and highly enjoyable visit to a fascinating moderately sized cave complex. At the elevation (over 6000 feet) it provides a scenic overview of the Bear Lake region. Our guide Jared, 3 weeks on the job, nevertheless gave a terrific tour and was just getting into the lore and history of this place. Not highly publicized but well worth the detour. We did not need a reservation but it may be suggested for popular summer and holiday times. Generally the cave is closed for non summer to assist the bat population that hiberates there during those months. I highly agree with the favorable impression of the other reviewers.

This is really a neat cave with many of the formations that you find in larger more famous caves. The cave is very cool so be sure to bring a coat. You need to hold onto the railing because the steps, and path are slippery in many places. The railing is cold and will make your hands black, so bring some gloves if you can. The tour guides are local high school students that do a fair job of explaining the history of the cave and the geologic formations. You come out the same way that you came into the cave, via 444 stairs, so I wouldn't suggest bringing young children that can't climb the stairs, unless you want to carry them a lot. The tour lasts about 1 1/2 hours.You are not allowed to bring water or food into the cave, so leave it in the car. The drive getting to the canyon is beautiful, and the views of Bear Lake and the surrounding valley from the parking lot are fantastic.There are near by campgrounds if you want to camp overnight. They have water, flush toilets, but no garbage service.

Seven reasons to visit Minnetonka Cave1. Terrific scenery as you travel to the cave through St. Charles Canyon on a paved road that isn't too steep.2. Drive-up access with a short, easy walk to the cave entrance. No hiking required.3. Informative guided tour. 4. Learn a good way to remember what a stalactite is and what a stalagmite is.5. View incredible formations.6. Family Pass pricing is available for immediate family living at home.7. With warning, briefly experience complete darkness deep inside a cavity of the earth.Our family enjoyed our visit to the cave the Friday after Memorial Day. Some remnants of winter remained, we saw patches of snow on the roadside on our drive up the canyon, and there was still snow on each side of the cave entrance. The weather and temperature was fantastic. We were fortunate to arrive five minutes before the next tour started. It's so nice when timing works out and no waiting is required! Two of the people in our tour group were planning to go into the cave wearing shorts and short-sleeved shirts, but when they felt the cool air coming from the cave entrance they quickly raced back to their car and brought back jackets. The interior temperature of the cave is 40 degrees.In addition to bringing a jacket, wear sturdy shoes since you will be tackling nearly 900 stairs during the tour. Stairs can be slippery due to moisture within the cave. Also sections of stair climbing can be somewhat strenuous, but don’t worry you can go at your own pace. Be advised NO CREDIT CARDS are accepted, only cash or checks.Daily tours run from 10 AM-5:30 PM beginning Memorial Day (weather permitting) through Labor Day. Tours are scheduled to start every half-hour.Restroom facilities and a water fountain are available adjacent to the parking area.All visitors are asked to adhere to the following: "Attention! If you plan on visiting Minnetonka Cave, please do not bring anything -- including clothing -- that has been in another cave. This includes hats, shoes, belts, jewelry, cameras, backpacks, cell phones, etc. Why? To protect our bats from white-nose syndrome, which has killed off millions of bats across the nation" (Minnetonka Cave flier).

Minnetonka Cave is worth the trip. A couple of tips-Make sure you get there early in the morning to get a tour at a decent time, if not you may be waiting.-Wear good shoes with traction. -Bring a jacket to stay warm and also GLOVES.Great cave to see and worth bring the family and friends. It's only 888 stairs to climb :)

Very interesting cave. Plan to go up and down a lot of steep stairs. Dress warm...it is 40 degrees inside. Tours often have wait times so plan to show up, pay, and wait one hour til your tour starts. Cost is $8 for adults and $6 for kids 6 and up. The tour lasts just over an hour. Certainly worth doing if in the area.